Love What Matters

‘He gaslit me so much, I doubted my own mind.’: Domestic, sexual violence survivor details healing after extreme abuse

“I’ve rebuilt myself bit by bit. I’m brave, independent, and strong. I have forgiven myself for letting him hurt me.”

‘The vaccine created the perfect storm.’: Mom shares Hashimoto’s diagnosis, healing journey

“The doctor said he didn’t believe in a Hashimoto’s diagnosis and it was all in my head. I walked out of his office with tears streaming down my face. I knew deep down I wasn’t crazy and this was not the life I was meant to live.”

Suicide Survivor, Double Amputee Shares Powerful Message Of Hope And Determination

“A girl with a clear intellectual disability came up to me and said, ‘Are you ok? Did you hurt yourself?’ I responded, ‘I’m okay. But yes, I did.’ She looked at me and my prosthetics and said, ‘I’m so sorry. Take better care of yourself next time.’”

Don’t Forget To Hold The Mother, Not Just The Baby

“The baby is being taken care of, and the mother needs to be seen, so she doesn’t disappear into a postpartum fog.⁣”

‘Let the grass grow. Let the kids stomp in puddles. Let go of the words you hear from others.’: Mom’s tips for finding parenting joy

“Let yourself breathe in fully, and exhale slowly, and just exist in the moment. There’s so much beauty hidden in the mess.”

I’m Really Tired Of Being Somebody’s Widow, But Man Was I Lucky To Be His Wife

“I was at an event enjoying myself when I quickly realized I was one of the only women there not coupled up, at least not by choice.”

To My Stillborn Daughter: There’s A Hole In My Heart The Shape Of You That No Child Can Ever Fill

“What I would give just cradle your petite, warm body one more time.”

44 Must-Know Secrets To Living A Happy Life

“Don’t drink cheap tequila. Just don’t do it. Spend the extra money on the good stuff.”

‘I remember walking out of the hospital thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can survive this.’: Bereaved mom shares heartbreaking loss of baby boy at 40 weeks

“‘I’m sorry, I’m not detecting a heartbeat.’ What followed is a blur. I recall Reece shouting NO repeatedly, but I stayed silent. The world seemed to stop, and I felt like I was watching myself on a TV screen.”

‘This was not my plan, but I put on a smile and prepared to meet my daughter.’: Mom shares intense labor and delivery story

“Just as they were putting the sheet up to block my view, I started hearing everyone scream PUSH, PUSH, PUSH! Push what? I’m pretty sure there isn’t any pushing involved with a C-section. Was I tripping from the drugs? I was on the freaking OR table!”

Child Sexual Abuse Survivor Shares Messages She’s Had To ‘Unlearn’ In Her Healing Journey

“All these thoughts, feelings, and meanings you have belong to the perpetrator, who managed to download them onto you by way of the abuse. They’re not part of you, and once you really understand that, all those feelings and beliefs about yourself can disappear just as quickly as they were formed.”

Daughter Honors Late Father With Touching Covers Of His Original Music

“Music helped me with the grieving process. I hope to honor my dad by sharing his music and the beautiful lyrics he wrote.”

‘I couldn’t walk, use the restroom, or shower by myself. I couldn’t rock my baby to sleep when he was crying.’ Mom shares first child’s birth story, losing feeling in her leg

“All I could think about was how I was going to take care of a newborn when I couldn’t walk. I felt angry, terrified, and completely devastated. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.”

‘I shared my husband’s passing with a casual acquaintance. She immediately said, ‘You NEED to meet my friend.’: Widows become friends after losing husbands to brain cancer

“Be open about your struggle and be honest when someone asks you, ‘How are you doing?’ You never know who may come into your life because you shared your story.”

Today I Met The Cracker Barrel Fairy Godmother, And She Reminded Me The Power Of Kindness

“A momentary interaction with a stranger, who knew nothing about me, had made me question whether I was a ‘good mom.’ But then, with just a few words and an act of kindness from another stranger, I was reminded I’m doing the best I can. Even when my kids are acting like a hot mess.”

I’m A 44-Year-Old Kindergarten Teacher, And A Few Days Ago I Decided To Start Living Like A Total Badass

“At the beginning of summer break, I thought, ‘Hey, this would be a good time to do something big in case I die unexpectedly. I don’t want to be unfulfilled.’ This year, I’m taking ‘life begins outside of your comfort zone to a whole new level,’ and believe me, there’s nothing less comfortable then being put in a headlock by a professional wrestler.”

10 Unexpected Perks Of Being A Stepmom

“Any stepmom will tell you blended family life is no walk in the park! But there’s no doubt that behind every cloud is a silver lining, and this is no exception.”

‘I wasn’t ready to live a sober lifestyle. I was trying to stop drinking for someone other than myself.’: Recovered alcoholic shares prolonged journey to sobriety

“I did a google search for ‘symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.’ It was like I had the winning lottery numbers. I just kept checking box after box. Still I drank.”

5 Lessons I Never Really Paid Attention To Until My Life Flipped Upside Down

“When lying here in a hospital bed, I know the Ted Baker bag isn’t going to heal my brain, but the memories will help it feel a bit better.”

‘The neurologist said, ‘All girls your age have seizures. You’re fine, go live your life.’: EDS, epilepsy warrior shares struggles of navigating chronic illness as a black woman

“When the doctor came in, he spoke to me as if he didn’t believe I could possibly have my conditions. I told him my bones, particularly my patellas, needed support and I’d prefer if we didn’t check those, but he insisted. He pushed my kneecaps to the side and then said ‘oops’ as he easily dislocated one.”

Best Friends’ Silky Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie Lockdown Recipe

“Certain foods invoke special memories from the past. In the case of Micheline and Leigh, this recipe represents the beginning of a new chapter in each of their lives.”

‘One day at school, there was an awareness poster with the word ‘molested’ on it. I lost all the feeling in my body.’: Child sexual abuse survivor finds healing in finally sharing her truth

“I poured everything into my salon and my family as a way to avoid my pain. My clients would compliment me on my ‘beautiful smile.’ My thoughts were, ‘If they only knew what was inside my head.’”

I’m Sorry I’m Late—I Want To Be On Time, But Kids Are Messy And Unpredictable

“My child ended up on the floor in a fit because they demanded a cookie for breakfast and I wouldn’t give in. One of my children needed to ‘go poopy’ on the way out. The toddler thought it was funny to hide and couldn’t be found for over ten minutes.”

‘Divorced, I told myself I was done. No more messing up marriages. Then a good friend from high school messaged me.’: Woman shares journey to beautifully blended family

“I told myself I’d stay single, just roll with things. Doesn’t God just laugh when we make plans?! Rather quickly, we were pregnant…both of us were 38! He had 2 kids already and so did I, what in the world were we going to do?!”